Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
After turning the last page, I ended up crying. The story wasn’t sad—it was warm and humorous, filled with lovely and fun details about video games. I didn’t know why I was crying, but I couldn’t stop the tears. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. I cry more easily these days. But the real reason I cried was because I knew I’d miss them—Sam, Sadie, and Marx. Maybe even Dov. I’ll miss Bong Cha and Dong Hyun, too. It’s been a while since I’ve fallen in love with characters like this. They felt like friends. I didn’t cry when Marx died, but I cried when I realized it was the end of our story.
Sam, Sadie, and Marx – Do I really know you guys? (Well, not much about you, Marx)
They’re all complex, three-dimensional people, just like all of us.
Sam lacked confidence, especially in himself, but was deeply stubborn when it came to what mattered to him—like believing in Sadie. He might have seemed like the “weakest” of the three, but he was resilient, and he kept the company going when both Marx and Sadie were gone.
Sadie, on the other hand, struck me as someone who wrestled with self-hatred (even more than Sam), and she was often passive-aggressive, sometime s even selfish. Still, she was incredibly talented, loved Sam deeply in her own way, and was arguably the most successful on the outside.
Marx remains a mystery to me though. He seemed cheerful and organized, but I feel he didn’t get enough narratives. If Sadie and Sam were my close friends, Marx felt more like a friend of a friend—charming, kind, but a little distant. I hope one day the author writes a sequel just about Marx. I’d love the chance to know him better.
I am a gamer – will gamers love this story?
It’s a truly engaging story, though I’m not sure I agree with the idea that all gamers will love it. While it references many games, I think it resonates more with people who enjoy creating things. Much of the story is about the pain and joy of creating video games, and how that process shapes and is shaped by life events, and how it shapes your life, too. If you understand the feeling of “we have to finish this, no matter what” or “everything is going on in my life, but I’m still thinking about this project,” then this book will speak to you.
Did I like the ending?
I was actually shocked when the author killed Marx. I thought the story would’ve been stronger if he had stayed alive. The dynamic between the three was still evolving, and while I understand the author wanted to touch on important issues in American society, the structure of the narrative felt looser after his death.
I also felt it was a missed opportunity that Sam never formed a relationship with Sadie’s daughter. Surely Sadie changed a lot after becoming a mother, but we don’t really see that growth. It seemed like the author wanted to keep Sam and Sadie frozen in time, but that didn’t feel possible. We all change, and so do our friendships.
What did I love the most?
What I loved most about this book is how it explores love beyond romance. I felt odd when Marx and Sadie slept together, even though I’d expected it from the start. But when Sadie reflects on how romantic love is more fragile than what she shares with Sam, it really hit me. It might be the first time I’ve seen the vulnerability of romantic love shown so clearly, especially in a society that glorifies it so much. I believe there are many types of love beyond romance whereas friendship is so undervalued in our society.
What else?
Before I started reading, I had no idea the book had references to the gaming world or the Asian community, so that was a delightful surprise. I didn’t know anything about the author either, but I was certain she must have an Asian background (which turned out to be true) because of how authentically she captured the emotions and social dynamics of immigrants and people with mixed cultural heritage. I’ve recently become a casual gamer (since Covid), so the games mentioned in the book were intriguing. I’m not sure I’d enjoy something like Diablo, but I might give it a try.
Bookalien Score
Mars (Sun is the full score!)
Bookalien 